North Beach

Without a doubt, North Beach is one of the liveliest communities in San Francisco. From the street art to the bustling of the always-packed café’s and nightclubs, there is never a dull moment in North Beach. Loved by citizens of San Francisco and tourists alike, North Beach is a one of a kind neighborhood. Known as the “Little Italy” of San Francisco, North Beach has many unique Italian style café’s, bookstores, restaurants, old timey barbershops, and small family owned bakeries. While these attractions alone are enough to bring anyone into the neighborhood, North Beach is also famous for being the home of the "Beat" literary movement of the 1950s. These streets, café’s, book stores, and other establishments contain history from one of America’s greatest time periods, and it is easily seen through the art work and signage just how much history and life there really was and still is within this neighborhood.

            While I had been to North Beach as a tourist before, I had never really taken the time to really get to know the neighborhood before venturing into North Beach this past week. With a traveling companion who was both a native to the city and of Italian decent, I was on a real tour of an area many visit but never truly get to experience. As my tour guide began to show me the good places to eat, the best nightclubs, and the best café’s, I began to notice how much the signage of the neighborhood was competing for my attention. Signs weren’t just above restaurants, but in the windows, on the streets, and even painted on the sidewalks surrounding the buildings! The more we began to walk through the neighborhood the more places my tour guide began to point out, and I noticed just how many “good eats” there were within such a close vicinity. It was no wonder these signs were trying to compete for my attention; with so many good places to eat the stores had to compete to remain in my thoughts.

            As I began to notice the signage more and more, I began to notice how distinct each form of signage was. The graphic language and bright lights of the nude nightclubs, the hand painted signage-design of the bookstores, and the old fashioned Italian styled signage of the café’s and restaurants - each form of signage was unique and felt as if it belonged with the establishment it represented. The signage of North Beach felt very unique in that it was specifically tailored to fit the “vibe” of the establishment it symbolized. It was as if the owners of the businesses took into consideration how to convey their stores through signage before building them. As a signage student I found this to be quite amusing.

            While hard to get to by bus, North Beach is a community no one should skip while visiting the city. It is a neighborhood rich with culture and community, and even if you aren’t of Italian decent, you’re always welcome at the proverbial family style dinner table known as the North Beach district.

Lower Haight/Castro

One of the longest walks I’ve taken since moving to San Francisco was also one of the most interesting walks I’ve taken since moving to San Francisco. Within one downhill expedition covering a few miles I truly experienced the areas known as the Lower Haight and Castro districts. While these districts lie next to each other and absorb a bit of the culture between both locations, it was striking how different these districts truly were, evident by the signage of each neighborhood.

            When people think of Haight Street, they typically only think about the Haight-Ashbury district, or the “Upper Haight”. What many neglect to consider is the Lower Haight, taking up a far larger area than the Haight-Ashbury district. Composed of beautiful Victorian houses and small mom-and-pop type businesses, the Lower Haight has a very “homely” feel to it.  Signs for posh salons, small boutiques, and hip café’s covered the streets and made the neighborhood really feel as if it was a small community within a large city, unique and quite different from the areas surrounding it. I could feel the influence of the Upper Haight district with the styles of homes, and I could feel the influence of the Castro district with the style of stores. I suppose I could say that the audience of this signage is the 20-30 year old artistic community; the “yuppies” of the neighborhood. The Lower Haight felt like a great transition neighborhood between two amazing and so unique districts. Like a DJ producing the perfect mix, the transition was exceptional, and before I knew it I was in the heart of the Castro.

            Our first stop upon entering the famous Castro district was the Harvey Milk Center for the arts, located at Duboce Park. This center was set up to commemorate Harvey Milk, a famous gay activist and city leader. The signage of this building was very elegant and professional, appealing to both an artistic sense and a business like sense. The location of this building is significant to the history of Harvey Milk’s activism throughout the city. Duboce Park, now a very quaint recreational center was once known as “Dog Shit Park”. Signs now read to keep your dog off the grass -how ironic! As we continued into the Castro district, signage began to come more witty, sassy, and appealing to my sense of humor.  It was no question I was in the heart of gay culture within San Francisco, and as a gay man I felt as if I was home. I suppose I could say that I am a member of the audience the signage is speaking to, and the identity it’s cultivating is a gay identity. However this is not to say that this makes the neighborhood strictly for the gay community. The Castro neighborhood is a melting pot of all of the neighborhoods within San Francisco, with a rainbow twist. A very welcoming community, tailored to the interest of the gay population of San Francisco.

            Our final destination of the adventure was Dolores park, a recreational center on the fringe of the Castro district, where the Castro meets the Mission district. This park is notorious; everyone in the city knows that this is “the place to be”. With beautiful views of downtown, Dolores Park is often filled to the brim with San Franciscans enjoying the warmth and good vibes that come together to make Dolores Park such an amazing space. While this walk may have killed my legs, I feel so much more cultured now that I have experienced these districts for all that they have to offer. I now understand who each district caters for, and what identity is cultivated through the similar but unique districts.

Chinatown

Located in the heart of downtown San Francisco, Chinatown is one of the cities most well known districts. Chinese immigrants from the Guangdong province originally populated this neighborhood in the mid 1800’s when the first Chinese immigrants arrived in North America, creating North America’s oldest Chinatown.  These original immigrants were laborers, working on constructing railroads, helping with the gold rush, and helping the progression of the developing West Coast. Because of racism at the time, immigrants were secluded into ethnic neighborhoods; Chinatown, San Francisco being one of these neighborhoods. As time went on, more immigrants began to join the Chinatown neighborhood, making Chinatown one of the most densely populated districts.

As time progressed, so did Chinatown. While Chinatown and the residents who reside within Chinatown continue their timeless traditions, many Chinese Americans residing in Chinatown are modernizing their ways. This transition can be seen within the signage of Chinatown. Many of the traditional signs still remain, but with a modern twist. Hand-drawn signs are now seen in bright neon lights, and the old signs of the retro 60’s days – while still around – are no longer used and are out of sight. Technology has changed the way in which the signage of Chinatown is presented as well as read. Instead of large and extravagant signs sprawling the building sides, many small signs cover windows, doorways, and street-side walls. Technology has simplified the signage of Chinatown, and in a sense it has made the signage more compact.

Chinatown remains as one of San Francisco’s most visited neighborhoods. Tourists from around the nation and around the world come to Chinatown daily just to explore and take in the sights, shopping, art, cuisine, and environment. As we progress in life, its no doubt that Chinatown will progress as well. It will be interesting to see how Chinatown, a neighborhood with such rich and traditional history will progress.